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7
Ratcliff, I am not very clearly satisfied." But increased experience,
aided by the recent Census, has doubtless enabled us better to see our
way. When I notice 148 persons in Ratcliff for 95 in Wapping,
and the disproportion still striking in Limehouse and Shadwell, there
can be little question but that density of population, and in some
cases even overcrowding, are the true sources of mischief. There
would be no difficulty in marking out courts and alleys where the
problem would seem to have been with the originators— "How to
enable the greatest number of people to live in the smallest amount
of space?" Here fevers thrive, and lu re other diseases of the zymotic
class run their course; so that while knowing these things, I can only
express a regret frequently that the hand of authority is not sufficiently
empowered, as the greatest boon to the inmates, to level such abodes
with the earth.
I have not had an opportunity of comparing this with other
Districts, with the exception of those of Mile End and St George's,
East; a few facts connected with which I subjoin.

There can be no difficulty in accounting for the difference in the
death-rate in these three Districts apart from density of population, for
while Mile End is, the greater portion of it, a new town, with handsome
houses, elsewhere there will be found no inconsiderable portion
of that has been called "Old London;" or if built in more recent
days other parts of it, the bulk have been raised with any view rather
than as contributing to the health of the people.
As to special diseases affecting the District the two most notable